And lawrence brtjehl of brooklyn



Aug.' 2o, 1929. s. @Tm ET AL l 1,725,205

AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 20, 192.9. s. oTTo ET AL AUTOHATIC CONTROL OF ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. ll, 1927l 5 SheetsfSheet 2 grs/venten S. OTTO ET AL Aug. 20, 1929.

AUTOMATIC coNTRoL oF ABsoRPTToN RETRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l.. 1 Aff/lll.

lll/.AVAHMIIHWM u IIVVENTOR` I: 4 A; TORNEYS.

#maw M Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

narran stares A mares PATENT OFFEQE.

STUART OTTO, OF WIL'ON, CCNNECTCUT, AND LAWRENCE BRUEHL, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNORS TO GAS REFRIGERATION CORPORATION, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOIiATC CONTROL CF ABSORPTCN-REFRIGEEATING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 11, 192'?. Serial No. 167,428.

In refrigerating apparatus of the intermittently operating absorption type, the boiler-absorber is alternately heated and cooled. During the heating period the refrigerant gas is driven off, liquefied in the condenser', and delivered to a receiver or the evaporator. During the cooling` of the boiler-absorber, the liquefied refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator and is returned to the absorbent liquid in the boiler-absorber. The cycle of operations is controlled and the change from one phase to another is timed by turning on and off the heating and cooling mediums. h

The main object of our present invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the flow of cooling water and heating gas to the boiler-absorber. As the cooling water is ordinarily delivered under the pressure of street mains or high head, we utilize the water pressure as the force for opening the valve which controls the flow of heating medium to the boiler-absorber. inasmuch as the boiler-absorber may be heated either by liquid or gaseous fuel or electric current, the term valve is used in its broad sense to include not only the ordinary gas or liquid fuel valves, but a switch serving as a controller for the flow of electric current to the heating` element.

In our improved construction the arrangement is suoli that the mechanical actuation of the water valves controls not only the application of the cooling agent to the boilerabsorber, but also controls the application of the heating agent thereto.

As one important feature we provide means whereby the flow of water through the boiler-absorber is comparatively rapid for a short interval immediately after the end of the heating period to quickly start the absorbing period, and is very much slower during the .balance of the absorbing period while the low temperature is being maintained.

As another feature there is provided means whereby the restriction providing the minimum water flow is automatically freed of any obstructions during each shifting of the water valve.

As another important feature there are provided a pair of water valves so connected that they are shifted at different times by different operating conditions in the system, and permit the full or the limited flow, or prevent flow of water to the absorber. At the same time they control the application of the water pressure to the valve controlling the heating medium.

As a further import-ant feature there are provided fluid containing power elements, one subjected to evaporator temperature for operating one of the water valves, and the other subject to boiler-absorber temperature conditions for operating the other water valve. Various other advantages, important features and objects of our invention will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent from a consideration of the constructions illustrated.

ln the accompanying drawings:

F1g. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a construction embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but employing a single power element for operating both water valves,

Figs. 3 and 4 are details showing alternative forms of the needle valve,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing an apparatus designed for a continuously operating system, and

Fig. 6 is-a view showing an alternative form of valve for use in the construction shown in Fig. 5.

The apparatus illustrated is adapted for use in a refrigerating system of the intermittently act-ing boiler-absorber type. rlhe complete system is not illustrated, but such system may be of the general character shown in the Otto & Jankus patent 1,582,882, issued April 27th, 1926.

The system includes an evaporator 10 and a boiler-absorber 11. Vsater under pressure is delivered to the condenser and from the latter' through the pipe 12 to a first three- Way valve 13. l/Vith this in one position the water may flow through pipes lll and to the boiler-absorber to cool the latter. When the valve is in the opposite position the water may flow through the pipe 16 to'a second three-Way valve 17. lVith this second valve in one position water may flow through the pipe 18 to the pipe 15, and thence to the abf spring 23a.

sorber, while when in the opposite position it may tlow through the pipe 19 to the gas valve 20, and to the waste pipe 21. The gas valve is shown as having gas inlet and outlet pipes and a valve member 22 connected to a bellows, diaphragm, piston, or other actuating means 23. The valve 2O is tor controlling the application of the heating I nedium to the boiler-absorber. Such heating means is delivered when there is water pressure in the pipe 19 and is shut oit when .said water pressure drops below a predetermined limit. For closing the valve when the water pressure drops, there may be provided a t will be noted that the element 22 might be an electric switch for opening and closing the fiow of current, instead ot a poppet for opening and closing the tlow ot gas.

The two water valves are similar in construction. Each is illustrated as including a plunger member 24 having its opposite ends serving as the `valve portions, and adapted to seat alternately against oppositely disposed water outlet ports. rihe valve member is provided with means tor holding it in either ot its two limiting positions and shitting it from one position to the other when a particular temperature condition is reached in the corresponding part ot the apparatus. As illustrated there is provided a valve lever 25 having a pivotal center 26 and a. fork at one end for engaging a pin or projection on the valve member. The lever projects into a chamber 27 and is there connected to the end wall of a bellows 28 which forms a liquid-tight partition sub-dividing the chamber intol two compartments. One ot these includes the pivotal support of the lever and is in open communication with the source of water pressure. The other side ot the partition or bellows may open directly to the atmosphere.

In the evaporator 10 or subject to the temperature of the latter or the chamber to lbe cooled there is provided a power element 29 which may be a cell orcontainer with an eXpansible fluid such is employed in connection with various forms of thermostatically controlled apparatus. This power element is connected by a conduit 30 to a bellows or diaphragm chamber 31 which may he similar to the chamber 27. The diaphragm or bellows on its opposite side is connected to rod 32 which is free to reciprocate and the position of which is dependent upon the temperature in the evaporator. Any suitable means may be employed for shitting the valve 24, preferably with a` snap action upon the desired movement of the rod Merely as an example there is illustrated a lever 33mounted on a pivot 34 and engaging with the rod 32 between a pair of spaced, i lependently adjustable nuts 35 36. The

free end of the lever 33 is directed toward the outside end oi the lever 25 and between the two there is a coil spring 37. With the two parts in the position illustrated the.

spring presses the lower end ot the'lever toward the right and holds the valve in its limiting left hand position to' close the inletot' the pipe 16. It the fluid in cell 29 eX- pands to torce the rod 32 toward the right a sufficient distance, it will cause the lever 33 to move the lower' end of the spring 37 to the right to such distance that it will pass beyond the end of the lever 25, and beyond dead center. The spring will then shi'lt the valve to the opposite limiting position and hold it against its other seat.

The valve 17 is substantially identical with the valve 13 and is operated by simi-` lar mechanism although the actuation is eiiected by a power element 38 mounted in or subject to the temperature of the boilerabsorber and operating through a pipe 39 to the bellows or diaphragm chamber 31.

As will be apparent from the later description of the operation, it is desired that there be a rapid How of water to the absorber when said liow is through the pipe 18, and a slower flow when the pipe 14 is opened. For accomplishing this purpose there is provided a restriction in the passage leading to the pipe 14. Such a restriction may become clogged by the action of impurities in the water or by corrosion, and

thus the operation may be interfered with. 7e provide a construction whereby the size oi: the restriction may be readily adjusted and t-he passages automatically cleaned each time the main valve is shifted. As illustrated, the casing of the valve 13 is provided with an auxiliary casing 40, at one end of which is one of the two valve seats for the valve 24. Within the casing 40 is a plug 41 having a passage 42 providing the maximum slow flow to the absorber. The valve 24 has-a loosely fitting needle 43 which may reciprocate within the passage 42 but which does not act to close the latter. By adjusting' the plug 41 to the position illustrated, the needle is entirely free of the end of the passage when the valve 24 is in the position shown, and thus there may be t-he desired free but restricted iiow through the passage 42. The end of the needle or lplunger 43 is conical so that by adjusting the plug 41 toward the left, the needle will be brought into position so that the flow maybe reduced to the desired. extent and in accordance with the operating conditions in the absorber and iny the evaporator. When the valve 24 is shifted to engage its right hand seat and prevent flow oly water lnto the casing 40, the needle will enter the passage 42 for substantially the full stroke of the plunger, and will act to clear said passage of any obstructions such as vance of the restriction.

scale, dirt particles, or the like, which might, if permitted to accumulate, interfere with the desired rate of slow or restricted flow to the absorber.

In connection with the valve 17 it is desired to maintain a full water pressure to the valve 2O when the valve 17 is open, and at the same time to permit a restricted flow `to waste. t is also desired to maintain the passage to thel waste open when the valve 17 is closed. The valve casing 44 is similar to the valve casing 40, except that it has an opening for the pipe 19 at a point in ad- Thus when the valve is open, full water pressure may be exerted through the pipe 19 to open the valve 20, and at the same time a small amount .of water may flow past the restriction to the pipe 21. y

In F ig. 3 there is shown on a very much larger scale a form of needle adapted for use with the valvev 17. The adjustment of the plug 41 in respect to the conical end portion 43a regulates the restricted flow. The body of the needle may be of substantially the same size as the passage, and the leakage to relieve pressure so that gas valve may close is along a slot 45.

In Fig. 4 a further form of needle valve is illustrated. Here the plug 41a has a collar or sleeve 46 which is contracted at its outer end, and the needle 43 has an annular groove 47. By adjusting the plug axially the contracted part of the colar may be brought opposite any` desired part of the conical end so as tocontrol the size of the restriction. When the valve 17 is closed at the right end, the needle will be substantially in the position shown in Fig. 4. The water pressure exerted in the pipe 19 and on the bellows 28 may rapidly drop by iiow of water through the groove 47. The size of the groove may be such that the passage to waste is increased when the needle moves into the position shown which is not the case with the slot 45. f

The operation of the control is as follows. The parts are illustrated in the position which they occupy during the main portion of the absorption period. The cooling water flows through the condenser to the pipe 12and thence from the right hand end of the valve 13 through the passage 42 and pipes V14 and 15 to the absorber. The cooling in the evaporator is dependent at least in part, upon the rate at which the refrigerant gas is absorbed in the absorber, and this rate of absorption is dependent primarily upon the extent to which the absorbent is cooled. Thus, by adjusting theplug 41 theV cooling effect in the evaporator may be at any desired rate. It will be noted that with the parts in this position no water flows through the pipe 16 to the valve 17, and the bellows 23 is opened to the waste so that there is no water pressure acting on the valve element 22 to hold it open. The spring holds it in closed position, and therefore there can be no heating of the boiler-absorber.

Vihen the evaporator becomes nearly empty, evaporation slows down and the temperature of part of the evaporator goes up. This causes expansion of the fluid in the power element 29, and a movement of the rod 82 toward the right. The nut 35 is adjusted to such point that when the evaporator temperature reaches a certain predetermined point, the lever 33 will swing past dead center and the spring 87 will shift the valve member 24 to the opposite position and prevent flow through the pipe 14. This temperature may be varied according to the wishes of the manufacturer or user. Merely for example this may be set ,for 310 F.

As soon as the left hand valve in 13 shifts to permit the flow of water to the right hand valve in 17, it will be noted that no water can flow to the absorber. The full water pressure will be exerted through pipe 19 to open the valve 20, and the heating of the boiler-absorber will begin. rlhe plug 41 of this right hand valve 17 is so adjusted that there will be maintained the desired bacl pressure on the diaphragm or bellows 23 to hold the valve 20 open, but at the same time there may be a restricted flow through the pipe 21 at such rate as will give the proper cooling action in the condenser during the heating of the boiler-absorber.

This operation will continue until substantially all of t-he refrigerant gas has been driven out from the boiler. The boiler temperature continues to rise during the boiling period, and thus the fluid in the power element 39 continues to expand and move the rod 32 thereof toward the right. lVhen most of the refrigerant has been'driven ofi' from the abosorbent and has been liquefied in the condenser, the temperature in the boiler-absorber will reach such a point that fluid in the cell 38 of the right hand valve will cause the corresponding rod 82 to move the lever 33 past dead center and shift the right hand valve 24. This shuts off the supply of water pressure to the valve 2O and the pressure at said valve will relieve itself through the waste pipe, and the valve 20 will close. At the same time the flow of water to the pipe 18 will be opened up. The heating of the boiler-absorber thus stops and at the saine time there is a large volumn flow of water through the unrestricted pipe 18 to rapidly cool the absorber down 'from its high temperature. The rapid cooling of the absorber causes a rapid evaporation of liquid in the evaporator and the temperature which during the heating period has risen considerably above 31 F., will cool down to CFI on the boiler for the required length of time. The cooling orP the evaporator following the shifting of the right hand valve moves the power element l 'toward the lett. Due to the differences in lost motion, it first shifts the lett hand valve by the action ot' a stop 54 and sends the minimum flow of Water to the absorber and thereafter shifts the right hand valve by the stop 55 to be ready for the next gas flow, but the gas is not turned on by this shifting. The tour stops 52, 53, -il and 55 may be adjusted to vary the position and extent of each lost motion so as to give any desired operation at any desired temperature. Although the construction shown in Fig. l has certain advantages over that shown in Fig. 2, still the latter is simpler and less expensive in thatit has only a single power element. Y

ln Fig. 5, there is shown a construction adapted for a continuously operating system as distinct from an intermittently operating one. The valve member is substantially the same as the valve 24 shown in Fig. 4- except that it has needles 6l upon opposite ends thereof so that there may be regulated but restricted-flow from either end of the valve. It is thought that a detailed description of the construction is not necessary.` llVater from the condenser enters through the pipe 62, and with the parts in the position illustrated, may have a maximum llow through the pipe 63 to the waste pipe 64. This maximum flow may be regulated by adjusting the plug 65. The high water pressure 'may act through the pipe GG to open the valve 67. llVhenthe power element in theevap'orator shifts the valve 60, the water pressure at the valve 67 may drop and there will be a restricted flow ot water through the pipe 68 to the pipe 64. The absorber and condenser may be inserted in the pipe G4 or 62. There is a by-pass 69 around the gas valve G7v so as to permit limited flow whenrthe gas valve is closed. y ln this construction the apparatus acts merely to increase or decrease the heating action at the boiler and the cooling action at the absorber. lVhen `the demand on the evaporator is small the apparatus may run indefinitely with the minimum tiow of both cooling water and heating medium. Then the demands on the evaporator increase so thatthe temperature inthe evapora-tor rises,

Athe control apparatus will turn on more heat to the boiler and more water to the condenser and absorber.

Same as it is in Fig. 5. lVhen shifted to the right hand position, the liquid which may flow along the left hand needle or extension may flow back lengthwise through the valve member to the pipe instead of out through a separate pipe such as 68. In each of the forms illustrated the valves are 3 way valves of the reciprocating type. Other types of 3 way valves might be used and in some cases two separate 2 way valves in place oli each 3 way valve.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A retrigerating apparatus ot the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a pair of three-way cooling water valves, one outlet from one ot said valves leading to the inlet. of the other, and one outlet from each of the valves leading to the absorber, one of said last mentioned outlets providing restricted flow and the other providing free tiow ot the coolingwater.

2. A refrigerating apparatus ot the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a pair of three-way cooling water valves each having an inlet, an unrestricted outlet, and a restricted outlet, connections between the unrestricted outlet ot one valve and the inlet of the other, and means 'for delivering water from the restricted outlet of the lirst mentioned valve and the unrestricted outlet of the second mentioned valve to the absorber.

3. A refrigerating apparatus ot the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an

evaporator, a pair of three-way cooling water valves each having an inlet, an unrestricted outlet, and a restricted outlet, connections between the unrestricted outlet ot one valve and the inlet of the other, and means for delivering water from the restricted outlet of the tirst mentioned valve and the unrestricted outlet of the second mentioned valve to the absorber, and means for supplying heating medium to the apparatus when the restricted outlet of the second mentioned valve is open.

ll. A refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a pair oi three-way cooling water valves each having an inlet, an unrestricted outlet, and a restricted outlet, connections between the unrestricted outlet of one valve and the inlet of the other, means ifor delivering water from the restricted outlet of the first mentioned valve and the unrestricted outlet ot thefsecond mentioned valve to the absorber, and thermostatically operated means for shifting said valve.

'5. A retrigerating appartus of the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator a pair of three-way cooling Water valves each 'having an inlet, an unrestricted outlet Aand a restricted outlet, connections between the unrestricted outlet of one valve and the inlet of the other, and means for delivering water from the restricted outlet of the first mentioned valve and the unrestricted outlet ot the second mentioned valve to the absorber, vmeans for shitting one ot said valves in accordance with the temperatures of said evaporator, and means for shitting the other of said valves in accordance with the temperature of said boiler-absorber.

6. A refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a three-way cooling water valve having a pair of opposed valve seats, a rcciprocatory member for engagement with either of said seats, means for conducting water from one of said seats to the boilerabsorber, a member beyond the other of said seats and having a restricted passage therethrough, and an extension on said reciprocatory member adapted to enter said passage,

va valve for controlling the flow of heating medium to the apparatus, and means for opening said .valve including a llexible diaphragm and a conduit leading to said threeway valve intermediate of said last mentioned valve seat and said passage member.

7. A refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type including a pair of water ,valves connected in series, a thermostatically operating element in thermal relationship to the evaporator for operating one ot` said valves, a thermostatically operating element in thermal relationship to the boiler for operating the other valve, and means for conducting a restricted flow of water from the first of the Valves to the absorber or a free flowk through theit-wo valves in series to the absorber. y

8. The method of controlling a refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, including` delivering cooling water at a rapid rate to the absorber at the beginning of the absorption period and at a lower rate when the evaporator cools below a predetermined temperature.

9. The method ot' controlling a refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, including delivering vcooling water to the absorber ata restricted rate during the main absorptionperiod, shutting off the supply of water and applying heat to the boiler when thetemperature in the evaporator exceeds a predetermined limit and shutting ott the supply ot' heating medium to the boiler when the temperature in the boiler exceeds a predetermined limit.

10. A retrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, including a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a cooling water circulating system, a pair of three-way valves in series in the water circulating system, a thermostatic element in the evaporator for operating one Valve, and a thermostatic element in the boiler-absorber for operating the other valve. f

l1. A refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, having a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a cooling water lcirculating system, a heating medium supply, a pair of independently operating three-way valves in. the cooling water system, separate thermostatically operating means for controlling said valves to give different rates of water flow therefrom to said boiler-absorber and water operated means controlled by one of said valves for controlling said heating supply means. Y

12. A re'l'rigerating apparatus of thel absorption type, having a boiler-absorber, an evaporator, a cooling water circulating., system, a heating medium supply, a pair of independently operating three-way valves in the cooling water system, thermostatically operating means operating in accordance with the temperature in the evaporator for controlling one of said valves, thermostatically operating means operating in accordance with the temperature in the boiler-absorber for controlling the other of said valves, and water operated means controlled by one of said valves forcontrolling said heating` supply means.

13. The process of controlling the operation of an intermittently operating refrigerating apparatus ot the absorption type which includes the steps of supplying water at a low rate to thev absorber when the temperature in the evaporator is below a predetermined limit, supplying heating medium to the boiler-absorber when the temperature in the evaporator goes above said limit, shutting ofi' the supply of heating medium when the temperature in the boilerabsorber reaches a predetermined limit, and at the same time supplying cooling water at a rapid rate to the boiler-absorber and restricting the ilow of water to the boilerabsorber when the temperature in the evaporator gets down to a' predetermined limit.

14. The method of controlling a refrigerating apparatus of' the intermittently operating absorption type, including deliveringv cooling water to the boiler-absorber at a rapid rate at the beginning of the absorption periody and ata slowerrate when the evaporator cools to a predetermined temperature, shutting off the supply of water to the boilerlabsorber and applying heat thereto when the temperature in the yevaporator exceeds a predetermined limit, and shutting ott the supply of heat when the temperature in the boiler-absorber exceeds a predetermined limit.

Signed at New `York in the county` of New York and State of New 'York this 9th day of February, 1927. STUART OTTO. LAWRENCE BRUEHL.

vll() ree 

